Hardwood Floors ? Benefits and Advantages

The Hardwood Floor offers a lot of advantages than other types of Flooring. Due to this, the present trend is to use Wood Flooring than wall to wall carpeting. Though the price of Hardwood Flooring ranges from $8 to $10 per square foot that is comparatively higher than the carpeting or the common laminates that has the same look more and more home owners select the Hardwood Floors for their homes.

The following are some of the benefits of Hardwoods. It will help you when you decide to install hard wood floors, or may be while changing your old carpeting and refinish the wood underneath.

Solid-wood floors last for long even for hundred years or more. Wood floors are more durable than other floors. There are very few flooring materials that is around like wood. Wood has shown itself to be a lovely and durable floor choice for over many Centuries. The other newer materials haven?t proved themselves yet like the Hardwood.

Hardwood is not only more pleasant to move on than laminate, because laminate always gives a cold feeling and a little plastic underfoot, but Hardwood is naturally warm. Wood has the capacity to hold heat because it has thousands of tiny air chambers per cubic feet.

The Hardwood floors do not become a breeding ground for mold, mildew and dust mites, all of which can be tough on anyone with allergies. Also the Wood Floors don?t give pollen, animal dander, mold, etc. any place to hide and thrive. Cleaning the Hardwood Flooring is also easy and can be made entirely clean unlike the Carpets. People with any kind of allergy are safe with Hardwood Flooring.

A little sweeping and a little mopping is enough to clean the hard wood floors, and your hardwood floors will keep looking nice for a long time to come. Even families with dogs and kids are realizing that it's easier to mop a hardwood floor than try to spray, scrub, wash. Another bonus is that a scratch here or a gouge there really just adds character to wood floors. It is easy to refinish your hard wood floors with perfection at any time you want.

When you want to live in the same house for the rest of your life, you should think about how the flooring choices you make today will affect the price you can get for your home when you sell it after many years. The Hardwood Floors last a long time and add value to a home. Laminate Floors doesn?t have the same warmth and feel like the hardwood floors. Though lamination Floor looks like Wood Flooring home buyers prefer Wood Flooring the most.

The Hardwood Flooring has the artistic value in them and they have very many benefits than stated above. Hardwood Flooring looks gorgeous than the other alternative flooring. If you are ready to pay an extra couple dollars per square foot, then your best choice should be hard wood flooring.

John Gibb is the owner of hardwood flooring sources

For more information on hardwood flooring check out http://www.Hardwood-Flooring-Sources.Info

Finding The Right Christmas Tree

Before you buy a Christmas tree, you need to think about where in your house you plan to display your tree. Be sure you think not only about how high the tree can be, but how wide as well. You?ll want to avoid placing your tree near fireplaces and the television because the heat tends to dry up the tree so it will not last as long.

The best time to shop for your Christmas tree to make sure you get the best one is in mid November. Of course, the most common and popular time to pick out a tree is two to three weeks before Christmas. If you want a fresh tree, you should shop in a reputable farm or a nice tree lot. Pick out the best tree that you can afford.

When shopping, consider:

?Quality
?Look
?Freshness

If you want to know if the tree is still fresh, grab a branch and pull it towards you. If only a few needles fall off (five to ten), you have found yourself a healthy tree. A strong fragrance is another way you can tell if a tree is fresh.

The three most popular types of Christmas trees are Scotch pine has long needles that tend to stay on the branch for a good long time.

Short needle trees have needles that are silver on one side and green on the other.Balsam fir has short needles and a strong sweet scent that everyone loves.

After freshness, the next thing to look for in your tree is a good, uniform shape, without huge gaps between the branches. Also you need to check that the tree you are considering is not leaning on one side. Choose a tree with a firm and solid base. Once you have chosen the perfect Christmas tree for your home, make sure that you transport it safely. You must protect it from the wind by placing it in a van or truck if you can. If not, tie it securely (top to the front of the vehicle) to the top of the car. When you get it home, don?t forget to water your tree so that it will last longer and stay fresher.

If you are looking for an artificial tree, you still need to think about the height of the tree. Bigger trees cost a lot and they contain lots branches and twigs so you?ll need a lot of ornaments to hang in the branches.

Jo Williams has an interest in Home and Garden related topics. To access more information on christmas trees or on artificial christmas trees, please click on the links.

Proper Diet For the Discus Fish

The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American waters of Brazil and Peru. Discus fish are classified as grazers, and in the wild constantly forage for food. Discus are tall, and have a laterally compressed body. Their swim bladder is located on top of the stomach. They have small stomachs, and short digestive tracts, and with these small stomachs designed to hold small amounts of food, over feeding the Discus can be a problem. Even a minor case of constipation can cause serious problems for the Discus fish.

Diet for the Discus should be varied and contain the nutritional value that they need to survive. In a discussion with our breeder, Nick Lockhart of Perfection Discus, I asked him what he would recommend for the daily diet.

Nick feeds our Discus twice a day. He feeds live white worms generally twice per week. The white worms are cultured on site, and are kept refrigerated in a small apartment sized fridge, and temperature controlled by a device that uses a probe to maintain a temperature of approximately 55 to 65 degrees for best results.

Nick also uses bloodworms, plankton, white worms, Emerald Entree, mysis shrimp, and white mosquito larvae to give a varied diet. Emerald Entree is a good choice for Discus fish. Although originally formulated for marine fish, it has proven to be an excellent diet for freshwater fish. Emerald Entr?e is fortified with omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which are proven to be important for optimal growth and disease prevention.

Discus fish and a lot of African cichlids eat a lot of blue green algae in the wild. Spirulina is a blue green algae, and has a special protein called Phycocyanin not found in another algae or terrestrial plants. Spirulina powder is readily available through most pet shops. Japanese scientists have linked Phycocyanin to improved kidney and liver function. Japanese fish farmers make extensive use of Spirulina, due to its positive effects on their fish.

Because good hygiene is of the utmost importance in the Discus tank, one should never feed more than the Discus can consume in approximately five minutes. As they are grazers, they tend to eat a bit slowly, so a little more time is needed to allow them to get their fill. I have read that it is good to allow a Discus to fast on occasion for up to two days, allowing them to get toxins flushed from the system. Nick has also stated that a fish can go two weeks without food, so skipping a day here and there is not really detrimental to the fish. Of course, you will not want to drive them to the point of starvation, but it will never harm the Discus to go for a day or two without food. It is much better to underfeed them a little than to over feed.

If care is taken, the discus will thrive in the aquarium. Much information is available for the potential Discus breeder, and a little common sense thrown in along the way wouldn't hurt either. As Discus are long-lived, the aquarist can have the enjoyment of these friendly fish for ten to twelve years.

Alden Smith is a published author, and has achieved Expert Author status on http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=AldenSmith&opt=admin. Alden has been marketing on the internet for 7 years. His website, King Discus, is an active gathering place for discus breeders and lovers of discus fish. His wife Betsy is the administrator of All The Best Recipes a site rich in online recipes and cookbooks.

Elegant Party Favors For A Special Baby Shower

You have been asked to plan a baby shower for a dear friend. One week into your planning, you get a call saying that your friend?s great grandmother will be coming as well as her three Aunts. Not only that, but they are all the type to wear white gloves and carry a pocket sized version of a well known etiquette book in their purses. Before you start to panic, be comforted in the fact that you can find some beautiful, elegant party favors that will dazzle even the most formal guest.

Remember, half of the battle is the presentation. You can take an ordinary favor and dress it up with a beautiful organza bag or fancy container. A quick internet search can help you find ideas for packaging. You can buy organza bags in larger quantities and one website had an adorable square tin with a custom label for your shower. Precious baby shower boxes with cute gingham designs come filled with a variety of candies or chocolate. If you are having a tea party type shower, look online for gourmet tea organza favor bags. They are beautiful and would be a lovely addition to any shower. When all else fails, give fine chocolate as a party favor!

If you are setting a more formal table for your guests, a small silver frame to hold the place cards makes an elegant party favor. Clear favor boxes shaped like mini handbags can hold the place card as well.

You might be worried that elegant means expensive. This is not necessarily the case. Many websites offer elegant looking favors for reasonable prices. Do a price comparison. Search a variety of online stores. Most websites sell by the dozen which often keeps the price down. If you are on a tight budget, you might want to try making your own elegant party favors. If you see an idea online that you like, go to a local craft store and see if you can find similar materials. Then see if the store has weekly coupons and save some money that way. Whatever you decide, don?t stress yourself out trying to find the perfect baby shower favor. Remember that this day is for the mom to be and your goal is to honor and celebrate her.

Kelly Jezek is a successful Webmaster and publisher of mybabyshowerhelper.com. She provides more helpful tips on planning the perfect baby shower at her site. Visit my baby shower helper today!

Thomas Chippendale and His Legendary Chairs

Chairs crafted by Thomas Chippendale were dazzling examples of quality furniture in their day. Today, they remain extraordinary examples of antique furniture. Chippendale style, ball and claw and ladder backs, there?s lots to know. Here?s your guide to one of the world?s most celebrated chairs.

Who is He.

Thomas Chippendale (1714-1779) was an English furniture maker in the mid 18th century whose work was influenced by English, French and Chinese furniture design.

A Book Made Him a Household Name.

In 1754, Thomas Chippendale published the first of three editions of his book, Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker?s Director. It put him on the map. This illustrated directory showed examples of the furniture that Thomas Chippendale could make for his customers. Wealthy clients could see illustrated examples, pick out the designs that they liked which would be handcrafted in his workshop. At the time, Thomas Chippendale probably didn?t expect that this book would become so widely copied for so many years by other furniture makers. It continues to be used today.

A Claim to Fame.

Thomas Chippendale was the first non-reigning monarch to have a furniture style named after him. Before Thomas Chippendale, furniture styles were named after reigning Monarchs such as Louis XIV, George I, Queen Anne.

Chippendale versus Chippendale Style.

Anything made by Thomas Chippendale?s workshop in England is a Chippendale. Furniture made incorporating the features used by Thomas Chippendale is Chippendale-style. American Chippendale refers to Chippendale style furniture that was made in the US ? mostly in Philadelphia.

Chippendale Style Particulars.

The style reflected elements of the Rococo, Chinese, Gothic and Noeclassical styles. Deep hand carving was prevalent. Common motifs were of shells, lions, masques, eggs, darts and scrolls.

Favorite Wood.

Mahogany was preferred choice of wood for Chippendale style furniture. Solid wood; not veneers was often used because of the detailed carving involved.

A Lesson in Legs.

There are six basic style ? lion?s paw, ball and claw, the late Chippendale, the Marlborough, the club and the spade. Early Chippendale furniture used the cabriole leg which is a serpentine style ending with a lion?s paw, ball and claw or the club. The late Chippendale, Marlborough and spade were straight legs and appeared later in the period.

Seat Selection.

Chippendale style chairs were wood, upholstered or caned.

Chair Back Choice.

Upholstered, rail backs, ladder backs, rung back, splat backs, carved backs, ribband backs. The chair backs are one of the most definitive parts of the chair that typify the style. Ribband backs are carved to look like bow. Very few were made in the 18th century because it required expert craftsmen and was very time-consuming. And very few survived passed the 18th C. Most ribband back chairs around today were made in the 19th and 20th centuries.

What to Look for When Buying.

Look for original condition. Repairs and replacement lower the value. Actual pieces from Thomas Chippendale?s workshop are rare indeed. Make sure the provenance is strong documented when a dealer says it is a Thomas Chippendale versus a Chippendale style chair. Keep in mind that very few ribband back chairs survived from the 18th century. Be wary when someone tells you that they have one.

Reproductions Versus Antiques.

You can tell modern reproductions from the real thing by looking closely at the carving. Is it uniform in depth and symmetrical? If so, it?s a modern reproduction. Antique Chippendale?s would be hand carved which is irregular in depth and never exactly symmetrical because it?s virtually impossible for even a master artisan to achieve it.

Pricing.

Any Chippendale 18th century chair whether it was made by Thomas Chippendale himself or one of his contemporaries will cost several thousands of dollars. If it?s not in that price range, it?s most likely not 18th century. Even high quality modern reproductions can be pricey.

Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium located in Toronto, Canada. He has appeared on a variety of television programs; does furniture restoration; caning and rushing repairs; appraisals and has taught courses on antiques at the Learning Annex. Martin can be reached at http://www.takeaboo.com

Artcoustic Loudspeakers No Gimmick

A few years ago, I watched an episode of my favourite TV show, Grand Designs. The show follows individuals as they fulfil their dream of building, renovating, or converting their dream home. In this particular episode, the refurbishment of a North London Victorian terrace, I wasn?t particularly impressed with the results, but one item of ?furniture? which made it into the finished article did catch my eye, and I quickly set about finding out more about this stylish and ground-breaking product.

The product was the Artcoustic Loudspeaker; a revolutionary, high-quality speaker that seamlessly blends into any home. Now you may doubt these words. After all, every home is different, and everyone has their own individual sense of style and taste. To compound this, the surrounding environment, furniture etc. bring yet another element just itching to clash with your audio-visual system. Not so!

Artcoustic have developed a loudspeaker with a sound quality amongst the finest HiFi loudspeakers. By housing each plasma speaker in a cabinet the depth of the average canvas, each wall-mountable with the least effort, and by offering a full range of artistic and interchangeable covers, the finished article resembles a work of art. Each Artcoustic loudspeaker can therefore be hung in any interior with no fear of appearing misplaced, whilst retaining the technical quality to satisfy the most ardent audiophile. The applications for these speakers are endless. By combining many smaller speakers, full surround sound capability can be supported, without the unsightly speaker stands and wires. By incorporating a larger subwoofer, you can really bring life to those action movies you love so much! Literally anywhere you would put artwork can now be fair game for the Artcoustic speaker.

Many chic hotels have incorporated these speakers into their rooms, bars and restaurants ... the ultimate endorsement. Cinemas have mounted them behind their screens to make the most of their space-saving capability. But in my opinion, it is in the home that the Artcoustic truly makes a difference. It will change the way you feel about audio visual systems. To label them as ?speakers that look like pictures? would be doing them a massive disservice. Able to compete with many of the space-hoarding, often higher-priced speakers which adorn the pages of ?What HiFi??, and yet one of the few products to truly blend into its environment, this is a true revelation in itself.

Matt Hodkinson is Managing Director of Matizzi. We offer a wide range of Audio-Visual and Home Automation products for your home or business. Visit us now for more information, at http://www.stylishautomation.com

LEARN the Basics of a Sane Parental Relationship

Hey PARENTS- Hassling with your hip-hopper making you Holler?!!!Hey TEENS- R u having trouble getting the 'rents off your back? Well, No matter what the case, I have the solution. Just follow these simple guidelines:

L.OVE your parent/child unconditionally. This is an easy step that if missed, can screw-up a person's life majorly!!!

E.NVITE open conversation on why you're hurt or upset, etc. Open conversation is always nice because you always know that, as long as you're not interrupted, you'll always be heard through!!!

A.GREEMENTS should always be met when everyone has said all they want to say. This balance the fairness out a lot!!!

R.ESPECT your parent's/child's thoughts, opinions, and privacies(to a certain extent).

N.EVER leave a disagreement without attempting to resolve it. If you do, you're asking for trouble with bottling-up, over-anxiety, stressing-out, etc., etc.

If you noticed, each new line spelled LEARN. I used this acronym because I know that I always learn from my mother and father, and it betters me as a person and a pre-adult. If you follow these guidelines, your life probably won't change completely, but it may just be an inch short of mile!!! And remember always: learn to live to laugh and love!!! G'day

***Note:I fully understand that invite in obviously spelled with an i not e, but then again, L.I.A.R.N just doesn't come close to being as cool!!!